EJ Training
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Dking is only one way for you to get started…not build a great practice. The majority of Jones brokers I’ve been around inherited offices. I knew of only 2 in a region of 60, who started from scratch. No office, no accts and were still there after 7 years and doing well. With these numbers, I would think you could realistically say that Dking isn’t really that successful. To say you could open a phone book a call any rep with Jones to show success going door to door is…well…a crock of shit.
Door knocking sucks! But it never ceases to amaze me how well it works.
Spears is right about how the odds are well against you starting new/new. While dking can be a long term strategy, most of us hate doing it and come up with "good" reasons not to. It's also not at all time efficient. Dixie, the excitement about marketing is good. Try different things and see what works. Just don't kid yourself into thinking that if you spread enough stuff around, the phone will ring. It doesn't: you need to begin soft, but then ask for business. The 7 is easy with the Jones program. When you get started, focus on that. If you don't pass it, how you will market yourself is a moot point. Best of luck to you!This argument gets back to the “region:” thing. In my region, there is one office maybe every 4 or 5 towns at most, and some areas with no offices for 50 or 60 miles. It’s a young region, and I can count on maybe two hands (and not all 10 fingers) the number of people that have taken over an office (out of about 65 offices). Most of the rest started from scratch. 2007 saw our first completed Goodknight (there are several in the region currently).
I would guess in the real mature, concentrated regions (STL, Carolinas, Texas, etc.) that a lot of people have taken over offices, partly due to retirees, partly due to people just leaving, and partly due to failures. So again, in my region, the success rate of new/new’s is probably higher than many.
While we’re on the topic of marketing ideas, does Jones have to approve any websites that a rep builds themselves and uses it as a referral source?
Imabroker:
Thanks for the encouragement. You get it and it's awfully good to hear your thoughts. I know I will need to ask for the order. That's sales. And I think we'd probably go at it in similar ways. Thanks to everyone that's posted over the last few days. This has been tremendous. Keep them coming. DixIce - not sure if your at Jones, but if a rep were to purse building a site, are there specific compliance guidelines that would help them do that? Or will Jones ( or whatever firm) turn down your site 100 times until you get it right and it meets compliance?
I seriously doubt EJ would ever approve any prospecting website separate from the basic FA site off the corporate page. Possibly some web based banner ads placed on third party sites, but not a separate website. Too much compliance hassle/risk to them. Same applies to most, if not all, of the non-independent b/ds.
You can always ask, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Lawyers rule.
Dixiepukes - you’re proving my point. You’re spending your day trying to ‘sell’ yourself on a chat site. You’re trying to convince yourself that door knocking and cold calling is productive, so you can justify the pain you’re feeling from your senior management breathing down your back to get something done.
Anyway - my opinion is that time is so short in this business - do something that will maximize your efforts. Spacey no-spiff, ZERO people have ever built a solid book by walking the streets. Your response of wanting me to go through the yellow pages is only confirmation that you have no real evidence. AGAIN - to maximize the effects of your door knocking, don't wear a short sleeved white shirt with a tie, and ALWAYS bring warm chocolate chip cookies!!Apprentpukes-What I am doing is something called “due dilligence” in which I am trying to get as much third party advice as I can before making an educated decision of whether or not I should get into this line of work. I believe that DK and cold-calling is part of the equation. In fact, the DK is a hell of a lot more interactive than picking up the phone.
I used to sell mortgages....I've done the cold calling...I understand the pain at times. But I always found that a face to face conversation was a hell of alot better than an impersonal phone call. Do you follow? I'm not really sure what your point is other than your ability to listen to what I am trying to accomplish.....just due dilligence my friend.apprentice - you are just simply wrong. My RL started from scratch. Doorknocking. Now manages almost $100 mil. Didn’t take over any offices, didn’t get any handouts from anyone. The most veteran guy in our region runs a $125+ mil book. He started from scratch. Doorknocking. So, the two most successful people in my region blow your statement clean out of the water.
I will give you that they didn't just doorknock. They did seminars. They made phone calls. They joined Chamber and Rotary. But the doorknocking gave them a solid foundation on which to build. My statement about the phone book was a bit of an exaggeration. But I'll bet if you called all of those people and ask them if they built their businesses doorknocking, a bunch of them would say yes. You might not see doorknocking as a "sophisticated" marketing strategy. That's your own shortcoming. People will talk to me when I ring their doorbell, hand them my biz card, and ask questions. Your "sophisticated" marketing strategy of invitations to dinner or fish bowl drawings or whatever doesn't put you face to face with anyone immediately. That's the beauty of doorknocking. Personal contact, short sleeve white shirt and all, right now. Knock it if you want, but it works. When it stops working, I'll stop knocking.Thanks Spiffy for proving my point. Despite themselves - people door knocked as they became successful - they did not become success because they door knocked.
Dixiepucks - you're awesome, I'm happy to see your passion come out. Again - my caution is that too much due dilligence will drive you out of the business. See the people, be the people - shake hands and kiss babies, you'll learn all you need to know along the way.Apprentice-You are absolutely right -the due dilligence can become analysis paralysis. All of you have taught me plenty on this forum. When I started my inquires, passing the 7 was my big worry. Now it’s the contract. With that said, I should still attend a career night at a local branch and ask all the questions.